Biology [Honors] A

Course Description

Biology is the science that focuses on the study of life. But what does it mean to be alive? You will investigate this question by looking at the differences between living and nonliving things and examining how life is classified. You will also explore the proper methods needed to carry out scientific investigations. Most biological processes are chemistry based, so you will learn some of the basics of chemical processes. You will study the different types of molecules found in living organisms and discover how each type of molecule is important for life. You will also investigate cells, which are essential for life. All living organisms are made up of one or more cells. You will learn about the cell theory and the basic structure of the cell. Finally, you will the way that cells transport materials through passive means.

Small molecules can move back and forth through the cell membrane passively. However, larger materials need to be moved through the membrane by other means. At the beginning of this part of the course, you will examine the active transport of materials. Cells are small, but they need a lot of energy! You will discover how cells create energy and how they use that energy. You will investigate two processes essential for life: photosynthesis and cellular respiration. You will compare these two processes and examine their relationship to one another. How does your body create new cells when you get a cut or scrape? You will learn how cells reproduce to create new cells through the process of mitosis, and compare mitosis to meiosis. You will also explore how chromosomes are distributed in these processes. In the last section of this part, you will explore genetics by learning how traits are passed from parents to offspring.